Washing machine



` 1.634,238 June 28" 1927' c. G. slNcLAlR WASHING' MACHINE lFiled Aug. 2. 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 W Dea 71kg/ l y 1/ l June 28 1927' c. G. SINCLAIR WASHING MACHINE Filed Aue. 2, 1924 l2 sheets-sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CYRIL G. SINCLAIR, OE TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 RELIANCE STORAGE AND WAREHOUSE COMPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHI- GAN, A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application led August 2, 1924. Serial No. 729,679.

My invention `relates to improvements in washin machines and particularly to that type o machine illustrated in my co-pending application Serial N o. 715,102, filed May 22, 1924.

An object is to provide a machine of that character with improved driving mechanism and particularly with improved clutch mechanism for engaging a rotatable tub with the driving shaft, and to an improved tub structure.

The particular improvements and details of construction are defined in the claims and will more fully appear in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical crosssectional view through my improved washing` machine.

ig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line-2-2 of Fig. 1. .o Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a` horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the male clutch collar.

f Fig. 6 is a plan view collar.

of` the female clutch In the drawings, let 10 indicate the vatof a washingmachine having a removable cover 12 and a bottom 14. v 15 indicates a rotatable washing tub supported interiorly of the vat for continuous rotation or oscillatory rotation. y

In my co-pending application above identified I provide a rotatable driving shaft adapted to be continuously rotated or rotatably oscillated. This shaft is longitudinally movable to be engaged by the driving mechat 4nism for continuous rotation or rotatable oscillation as therein described. In the present application the driving shaft is indicated as 16. The driving mechanism whereby the shaft is rotatably oscillated or continuously rotated is not shown as it does not form any part of this invention. Shaft 16 is longitudinally movable and extends upwardly vertically through the bottom of the vat 14. Interiorly of the vat surrounding the shaft is a tubular standard 18. A suitable bearing 20 is disposed on the upper end of said standard. The standard is cut away as at 22` to permit access to the shaft and for4 a purpose hereinafter more fully set forth. The shaft 16 extends upwardly beyond the bearing 20 and for a portion of its length is longitudinally slotted as at 24 to receive a key 26 carried by a cone collar clutch 28. This collar is supported on the bearing 20 and by means of the key isv engaged with the shaft to rotate therewith while permitting movement of the shaft longitudinally there.- through.` The collar carries a ring male clutch member 30 provided with clutch portions 32 which are adapted to engage in recesses 34 of a female clutch ring 36 which is carried by the cone clutch member 38. This .cone clutch member 38`forms 'a part of the tub 15 and seats over the clutch collar 28 and is furthermore recessed as at 40 to receive the end of the driving shaft 16.y

'The bottomof the tub is formed with an unbroken axialconcavity 41 within which is disposed a crown portion 42 of the cone clutch 38 secured to the bottom of such tub by suitable means such as bolts 44. The cone clutch is cutaway to lighten the same, as will appear in the drawing. Due to the fastening of the cone clutchI 38 in an unbroken axial concavity in the bottom of the tub there is lno dan er of leakage through the bottom of the tu at such point.

The recess 40 in the cone clutch 38 isprovided with an air groove 46 and the interior of the cone clutch 38 is so formed that a space 48 will exist between the top of the clutch collar 28 and the bottom of the cooperating concavity of the clutch member 38 which communicates with the `air groove 46, and the inner surface of the clutch member 48 is provided with a groove 50 so that an air space is provided to the interior of the concavity 40.

I rovde a sprin 52 which surrounds the slhaft 16 interior y of,L the standard 18 and one end bears against a shoulder 54 of the standard and the other end against a collar 56 secured to the shaft 18 by pin 58 so that the tendenc of this spring is to hold the shaft 16 yie dingly downwardly. The Standard 18 is surrounded by a casing 60 and suitable packing 62 is rovided between the casing and the-standar In the operationnof my machine whenthe tub is lowered so thaty the cone clutch 38 4mounted within the unbroken axial ooncavity l1-in the bottom of the tub is lowered onto the clutch collar 28 driven b the shaft 16 the female ring 4clutch mem er 36 engages the male ring clutch member 30 of the collar so the tub is driven by the shaft. Longitudinal movement of the shaft is provided for in that the recess in the clutch member 38 is of such a depth as to permit such movement within the limits required. The shaft is held downwardly by the spring 52 so that its normal position will be its lowermost one.

What I claim is:

1. In a washing machine, a vatf a. rotatable driving shaft extending upwardly through the bottom of the vat, a housing extending upwardly from the bottom of the vat about the shaft and provided with a bearing at its upper end, a cone clutch Supported on said bearing coupled with the shaft to rotate therewith while permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft therethrough, a spring encircling the shaft within the housing bearing at one end against a part of the shaft and at the opposite end against a fixed part of the housing to exert a yielding pressure upon the shaft endwise thereof, and a tub provided with a-co-operating cone clutch member adapted toseat on the first named clutch member to support the tub thereon for rotation by the shaft.`

2. In a washing machine, a vat, a driving shaft extending upwardly through the bottom o f the vat, a tubular housing extending upwardly from the bottom of the vat about the shaft and provided with a bearing at its upper end, said housing cut away on one Side to expose a portion of the shaft, a cone clutch member removably seated upon the bearing at the top of the housing coupled with the shaft to rotate therewith while permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft therethrough, a tub having an axial ooneavity in its bottom, a second clutch member having a crown portion secured within said concavity, and a cone clutch portion adapted to seat upon the irst named cone clutch member to support the `tube thereon for rotation thereby, and a spring encircling the shaft within the housing opposite the cutout of the housing, said spring bearinfr at one end against a part of the shaft and at the opposite end against a fixed part of the housing to exert a yielding pressure upon the shaft endwise thereof.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specifieation.`

i' CYRIL e. sINoLAIR. 

